Existing midlands staff to cover new Edenderry ambulance base

No new staff will be hired to work in the new Ambulance Service in Edenderry for the foreseeable future because of the government freeze on recruitment and the service, the Offaly Independent has learned. The HSE Midlands has confirmed that no extra full-time or part-time staff will be recruited for the provision of an ambulance service for the North Offaly area, which has yet to be given a date of commencement. Instead, the service will be manned by paramedics, probably from Tullamore and Mullingar hospitals. 'The HSE will not be in a position to recruit new staff at this particular time. However, this will remain under review in light of changing circumstances... It will be resourced from existing manpower from other locations throughout the midlands,' said a statement issued by the HSE Midlands, following an inquiry by the Offaly Independent this week. The Edenderry service which will be included as part of the "National Ambulance Service - Midlands Division" will be provided as long as it stays within the HSE"s current budget. The HSE said that its focus is to 'improve services' rather that providing a 'fixed base'. However, the service doesn"t seem to be much of an improvement on what the people of North Offaly are currently used to - an ambulance that travels from either Tullamore or Mullingar when a 999 call is made. This means that it can take up to 40 minutes for paramedics to attend a scene. According to a source, the Ambulance Service for Edenderry, will only be an "Emergency Dispatch Point" and will only be manned if Mullingar or Tullamore have a crew to spare or are quiet. 'In line with current practice throughout the Midland Division, paramedics reporting for duty at their currently assigned station may work or be assigned to any area of the midlands during their shift in order to maintain appropriate levels of emergency cover,' confirmed the HSE about the new service for North Offaly.It also looks increasingly likely that there will be no ambulance located in Edenderry either. There has also been little progress made with regard to the location for the Ambulance Service since the last meeting in April between the HSE, Health Minister Mary Harney and local councillors, when it was agreed that the HSE would look at suitable locations to provide the service, despite pulling funding of over €1 million earlier this year. According to the spokesperson, the HSE are still examining the feasibility of providing 'temporary and ad hoc access' to some of its existing premises in Edenderry. 'The key issue to be determined is to ensure that there is no other disruption to other services or patients,' said the spokesperson. It"s believed that the service may be located at Ofalia House, a nursing home in the town.